SURF NOTES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 931, 26 March 1930, Page 12

SURF NOTES

CONDUCTED BY '

"EARLY BIRD"

On the Sick List Hurdle jockey H. Dulieu will not be riding at Manawatu today owing to an attack of illness. He is commencing to show improvement, however, and in a few days will be up and about again.. Should Win This Time Praise has been on the easy list for a few weeks, but she will be in work agrfin shortly, in preparation for the Champagne Stakes at Easter. She has not won at six furlongs yet, but on two occasions when tried at that distance she was unlucky. She was suffering from a cold in Auckland, while she was left at the start of the Dunedin Champagne Stakes. Operatic’s Next K. Heaton has Operatic doing satisfactorily in his training at Ellerslie and the intention is to keep him for hack events at the Easter Auckland meeting. Only one race has been exacted from the son of Hyllus—at Pukekohc recently—and his effort was a really good one, although he failed in the matter of a placing. He is one of the few maidens at Ellerslie with a bright future. Quincoma's Whereabouts Ellerslie trainer E. C. Rae, who occupies most of his time with jumpers, has strengthened his team by the inclusion of Quincoma, who has been under W. Townsend’s charge at Pukekohe. Quincoma has seemingly not been doing well for he bears a rather light condition and his new mentor will require a bit of time in which to get him ready for serious business. For Autumn Meetings Starshooter is getting through plenty oi useful work at Iticcarton, and he should be at his best for autumn engagements. He has won at a mile, and lie shapes like running out a longer journey. It is probable that he will have his next race in the Hororata Cup a week before Easter. Easy for Tea Time At the Richmond (X.S.W.) meeting ten days ago the Tea Tray—Mendacity gelding Tea Time won a double, the Flying Handicap, 4} furlongs, and the March Handicap, six furlongs IS yards. In the first race he seems to have frightened all but one of his prospective opponents out. In the other event, despite his carrying a 71b penalty, there wero only two others on hand with him ;it the barrier, and he again went out an odds-on favourite. It seems to have been a very poor day’s sport, as in another event, with four acceptors on tlio card, all were withdrawn early in t.lie afternoon, so that there was not even a “w. 0.” The stakes for Tea Time’s events were £25 and £3, respectively. Barring Tea Time’s rather inglorious victories, the only other New Zealand sucess at minor meetings recorded in Sydney files is that gained at Orange (N.S.W.) by another of Tea Trays’ progeny, Tea Miss, from Miss Girons, bred at Otatara, Hawke’s Bay. She accounted for a seven-furlong handicap.

Good Mount Auckland light-weight jockey H. Wiggins, who does J. 11. JoiTerd’s riding during R. Reed's absence in Australia, has a fine chance of adding the Easter Handicap to his attractive record, for ho will have the handling of the three-year-old Hunting .Day in that event. Good Prospects The Riecarton four-year-old Great Star is among the horses engaged in the Great Easter and Great Autumn Handicaps. He has not done much work for some time, but as he comes to hand quickly he may be in good form for the Great Easter Handicap. If he is turned out all right lie will have to be reckoned with as he is a brilliant galloper and will run out seven furlongs solidly. The Great Autumn Handicap is quite a dieffrent proposition, and even at his best ho would find a mile and a-half a difficult journey. Bred To Win Races Mr. P. HoLden. of Hastings, has purchased a two-year-old half-sister to Grecian by Cape Horn. This youngster has not yet been tried, but \ bred as she is. should hold her own with the best. A Strange Protest t A peculiar incident occurred at a j meeting lately held in Adelaide, when j Mr. F. E. Lunn, who trains his own j horses, finished in first and second i positions in a novice race at Victoria i Park. Tie lodged a protest against the ' winner for interference. The stewards went into the matter, but did not agree with the owner’s complaint, deciding not to disturb the judge’s ruling. Protests against a winner when it is owned by another man are common enough, but protesting against a contestant when it is owned by himself is an occurrence that must be rare. Second Wind’s Latest The Xew Zealand gelding Second Wind continues to race well under the colours of the West Australian sportsman, Mr. E. Bee Steere. Second Wind’s latest success was registered in the St. Hilda Handicap (1£ miles), run at Caulfield last Saturday, in which he carried 9.0 and beat a field of 10 in the fast time of 2.32. Second Wind is described as by Psychology or Grandcourt, but it is generally held that the last-named sire can be credited with his parentage. Ch+ap at the Price A yearling full brother to M an[ red : was recently put up for auction in j Australia. The youngster, however, j did not change ownership, the reserve of 1.000 guineas not being reached, j Considering that Manfred won £28,830 j in stakes, the reserve price put on his ! brother did not seem at all exorbitant. Change of Stable Trainer R. E. Hatch has taken over the Hunting Song three-year-old Coon Song, who showed a very fair turn of speed in his two-year-old career. Twelve months agq he won the Debutante Stakes at the Woodville autumn meeting, but he failed to add to his account. He passed into the hands of A. Browne, of Foxton, but with that mentor’s intended removal to Trentham, the black gelding went to R. E. Hatch. Supervision of Apprentices The recent publicity given to the riding question and to instruction of apprentices lias caused the Racing Conference to make a move. Systematic inquiries are to be made and trainers throughout New Zealand have been circularised by the Executive Committee of the conference. The circular sets out that it is desirable to ascertain whether the terms and conditions. of apprenticeship agreements are being given effect to by both apprentice and employer, and that racecourse inspectors have been instructed to inspect and report; if necessary, to the Bicensing Committee regarding the conduct and well-being of apprentices. The intention of the inspection is to ascertain generally:—(a) In what manner the apprentice is housed, fed and clothed: (b) the measure of care and control exercised by the employer over the habits of the apprentice; (c) what riding tuition the apprentice receives from his employer. Trainers are expected to impart freely to the racecourse inspectors any information regarding the habits, good or otherwise, of any lad apprenticed to them under the New Zealand Rules of Racing. This would suggest that the executive of the Conference has decided to investigate fully, and it is possible that, arising out of the new arrangement, some scheme of instruction in riding will be formulated.